Bowman chasing another G1 win in All Aged Stakes

Hugh Bowman is giving himself an excellent chance to wind up the Sydney Autumn Carnival with another Group 1 win when he partners Press Statement in the Group 1 $600,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Bowman is the leading Group 1 rider again this season

Hugh Bowman is chasing another Group 1 win on Press Statement in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.

and six of his ten Group 1 wins have been during the Melbourne and Sydney Autumn Carnivals.

“It had been a fantastic season heading into the carnival and fortunately things continued,” Bowman told The Daily Telegraph.

“But we’re not done yet and I’d love to go out a winner on Press Statement.”

Bowman was on Winx that day, providing him with one of three Autumn Carnival Group 1s he won on the glamour mare, with the pair also combining to win the $600,000 Precise Air Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on February 27 and the $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on day one of ‘The Championships’ on April 2.

Press Statement hasn’t raced for a month since the George Ryder Stakes but Bowman knows that champion trainer Chris Waller will have him at peak condition, giving him an excellent chance to add to his Group 1 winning trophies.

“Obviously I rode Winx but the start before that I was on him in the Randwick where he finished second over the mile,” Bowman said.

“I felt as though he had enough time to run down the winner and left the course that day wondering if he was a genuine miler.

“Chris made the decision to freshen him up and come back to this race, which I think is his pet distance — he just loves 1400m races.”

“He’s (Waller) won two Doncaster Miles and an Epsom Handicap with horses coming back 400m in trip.”

“This bloke is only coming back 200m and has had a four-week break, which I think will do him good.”

Bowman and Press Statement are no strangers with the pair collecting three wins and an unlucky second from four outings together.

They teamed up for two wins during the 2015 Spring Carnival with victories in the Group 2 $200,000 Dyldam Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill and in the Group 1 $1m BECK Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield.

Bowman and Press Statement came together again in the Autumn with a first up win in the then Group 2 $400,000 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill followed by a second to Le Romain in the Group 1 $1m Girvan Waugh Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick on March 5 when held up for a run in the straight.

Bowman has been riding in outstanding form all throughout the Autumn Carnival and collected two Group 1 wins on the Waller trained Preferment in the $1.5m Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 12 and in the $1.5m The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on March 26.

The trophy for the Group 1 $1m James Boag’s Premium Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick last Saturday also found its way into Bowman’s silverware cabinet when he drove Kiwi filly Sofia Rose to a half a length victory.

Press Statement heads the market order for the All Aged Stakes at $3.60 with Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of Victorian sprinter Malaguerra at $4.20 and Gai Waterhouse’s filly English at $4.60.

Author: Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.